World Martini Day is Today!

MartiniGlasses2Today is World Martini Day that is, for you to shake up, or stir your inner Bond and enjoy one of the most iconic cocktails.

The martini is one of history’s most iconic cocktails, from its humble beginnings as a vermouth heavy libation in the 1860s, through the Bond era, into the ‘tini’ madness of the 80s and 90s, and up to present day… where anything goes.

Drinking a martini is a very individual experience, and although the ingredients are few, the possibilities are endless. With that in mind, we are wondering how will you prepare your martini today, World Martini Day, June 19th?

From the 1800s to the Bond era, the martini has persisted as a cultural icon. Whether it’s shaken, stirred or straight up with a garnish of lemon, the possibilities are limitless.

Go on, join the likes of Bond, Bogart, Fitzgerald and FDR, and make this iconic cocktail with your own vodka.

Personally, I’ve been drinking martinis for many years.  I even have a martini glass collection.  Enjoy!

We’ve been on assignment and absent from our studios!

We apologize for the silence regarding our usual weekday podcasts.  We were in Texas until late last night and prior to that, dealing with the emotions and the details of my daughter’s departure to Australia.

We’re doing and feeling a little bit better this week about her absence from our day to day lives.  She’s pursuing a dream and her heart, so as her mother, it is essential that I support her emotionally as she travels on this journey.

We’ve also had the opportunity to meet with other folks about some pretty exciting professional opportunities that will further enhance our ability to promote as much good news as possible, inspirational stories. folks overcoming adversity and ordinary people who had an idea and actually made it become a reality.

Stayed tuned . . . you’ll be the first to know! 

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 – The Art of Knowing When to Let Go!

I apologize for the lack of programming recently.  Ordinarily we produce a new podcast most week days.  This has been an extraordinary time for my family as my youngest child, my only daughter, is moving to Australia and tonight is when she takes her flight to do so.

I have four children and I love them all dearly.  I’ve been blessed with four great kids who turned out exceptionally well.  Two have graduated from college and two are still getting their degrees but they are all contributing members of society and are on their own. 

Yes, I am an empty nester!  It took me several months to get over the realization that I didn’t have to get home at a certain time to start dinner, do homework, supervise baths and bedtime stories and prayers.  Initially the adjustment was very difficult as being a mother was a part of my identity.  Not it wasn’t a day in and a day out occurrence.

I have grown to love my freedom and the responsibility of just myself.  However, I have had the luxury of having all 4 of my children within an hour’s drive.  My daughter has never been father than 60 minutes from me. 

Now she’s moving to Australia!  It is with a heavy heart that I send her on her way to this next chapter and adventure.  I admire that she is taking this opportunity to explore a new world and to follow her heart.  I am distraught at the fact that we’ll not be able to see one another for months at a time but I certainly do wish her well.

I’m also traveling for an opportunity so our programming might be intermittent until after Father’s Day.  I’ll do better about updating and/or commenting on our site, even if we don’t provide you with a podcast.

Thank you for sharing the word and for your loyalties.  I am humbled! 

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014 Mental Illness Awareness Month

NAMI Ventura CountyMay is Mental Illness Awareness month.  Please join Maria as she visits with Duane Bentzen.  Duane is the former President of the Ventura County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), for the past three years and a member of the NAMI Board of Directors for four years.

Duane shares about the national organization, the local organization and his own personal story about his son who was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia in 2002.  It’s a story about fighting for treatment and in light of the weekend events in Isla Vista, it is a timely story of how mental illness and that fight for treatment is a critical piece in the quest to answer some unanswerable questions.

www.nami.org  www.namiventura.org

To listen to the podcast, click the player below:

Friday, May 23rd, 2014 – Women Can Lower Their Risk of Heart Disease

Today’s guest visits with Maria about four simple ways women can lower their risk of heart disease.  Please join Maria and her guest, Dr. Aimee Shunney, a naturopathic physician who blends conventional medical diagnosis and treatment with the use of natural therapeutics.  

Click her for her website.